Description
A fresh, vibrant salad featuring sweet roasted red and orange beets paired with creamy burrata cheese, juicy citrus segments, crunchy pistachios, and a fragrant basil oil dressing. This easy-to-make dish balances earthy and bright flavors, perfect for a light lunch or elegant appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Roasted Beets
- 3 small red beets
- 3 small orange beets (or use all red beets)
Salad Components
- 2 burrata balls
- 1 small blood orange
- 1 medium cara cara orange
- ¼ cup pistachios, chopped
- 2 tablespoons basil leaves, ripped (for serving)
- ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt
Basil Oil Dressing
- 1 cup basil leaves, loosely packed
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Roast Beets: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Wash and trim the tops off the beets. Wrap the red and orange beets separately in foil to keep their colors pure and place them on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven until tender when pierced with a fork, approximately 50-60 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool before peeling and slicing the beets into wedges.
- Prepare Basil Oil Dressing: In a blender, combine 1 cup of loosely packed fresh basil leaves, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ cup olive oil, and 1 tablespoon of fresh orange juice. Blend until the mixture is smooth and emulsified, creating a vibrant green basil oil.
- Segment Oranges: Peel the blood orange and cara cara orange carefully, removing all white pith. Slice into rounds or segment the oranges to your preference for plating.
- Assemble the Salad: On plates, arrange the orange slices and place the burrata balls alongside. Fan the roasted beet wedges around the cheese and citrus. Sprinkle chopped pistachios over the top for crunch, drizzle with the prepared basil oil, and season lightly with flaky sea salt. Garnish with ripped basil leaves for a fresh herbal finish.
Notes
- To peel roasted beets easily, rub the skin off with your hands or a paper towel once cooled.
- You can substitute other nuts like walnuts or almonds if pistachios are unavailable.
- If burrata is unavailable, fresh mozzarella can be used as a substitute, though the texture will be less creamy.
- Roasting beets enhances their natural sweetness and softens their texture for a delightful salad component.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be prepped in advance by roasting beets and making basil oil ahead of time.
